Healthcare on the road

[oatmeal]

Originally Posted by stepside454

Our insurance is from Ambetter , it s not a true PPO, but we can use it in any state Ambetter has coverage , I think it’s like 13 or 15 differant states .
We only used it once while away from TX , & it was just great .
We do go to TX once or twice a year to visit & go to our primary doctor & cardiologist while there for check ups

I actually had Ambetter a few years ago, when Blue Cross stopped offering PPOs in Texas. After I cancelled my Ambetter policy, they continued to bill me for a premium for four or five months. And for longer than that, they sent me "member" emails as if I still had insurance with them. Since then, they've expanded to more states, so maybe they've gotten their act together. One can only hope.

Here's a map of states where Ambetter offers marketplace plans:
https://www.ambetterhealth.com/healt...our-state.html

Here's a map of where Ambetter offers marketplace plans in Texas:
https://ambetter.superiorhealthplan....erage-map.html

If you know you'll be spending a lot of time in the states where Ambetter has coverage, then it might not be a terrible choice (and it's better than a plan that has only a very limited local network, or probably any HMO--the only other choices in Texas). But I travel around a lot, with no set plan, and the places I go don't really correspond with Ambetter's states.

And something to remember is that if a plan doesn't include any out-of-network coverage, then if you're not in a place where the insurance company has network providers, it's the same as being uninsured unless what you need is considered an emergency by your insurance company.

Of course, out-of-network coverage isn't great, but at least it's something, and might actually be useful in a situation where you're using a network provider but they sneak in out-of-network people without your knowing it.

[stepside454]

Originally Posted by oatmeal

I actually had Ambetter a few years ago, when Blue Cross stopped offering PPOs in Texas. After I cancelled my Ambetter policy, they continued to bill me for a premium for four or five months. And for longer than that, they sent me "member" emails as if I still had insurance with them. Since then, they've expanded to more states, so maybe they've gotten their act together. One can only hope.

Here's a map of states where Ambetter offers marketplace plans:
https://www.ambetterhealth.com/healt...our-state.html

Here's a map of where Ambetter offers marketplace plans in Texas:
https://ambetter.superiorhealthplan....erage-map.html

If you know you'll be spending a lot of time in the states where Ambetter has coverage, then it might not be a terrible choice (and it's better than a plan that has only a very limited local network, or probably any HMO--the only other choices in Texas). But I travel around a lot, with no set plan, and the places I go don't really correspond with Ambetter's states.

And something to remember is that if a plan doesn't include any out-of-network coverage, then if you're not in a place where the insurance company has network providers, it's the same as being uninsured unless what you need is considered an emergency by your insurance company.

Of course, out-of-network coverage isn't great, but at least it's something, and might actually be useful in a situation where you're using a network provider but they sneak in out-of-network people without your knowing it.

Ambetter does not cover Louisiana , where we are, but it’s less than hour to Vicksburg , where I have coverage if needed

[Radacravitz]

Originally Posted by scbwr

For you, since you will be on Medicare, shop for a "F" supplement plan as already mentioned. For our supplemental plan, the United Health Care Plan offered through AARP has worked extremely well for us. But, if you shop for a "F" level of coverage, the coverage will be the same regardless of what insurance company you purchase it through.

ditto, my Medicare + UHC Plan F has been **great** for me.

[Pilot2Driver]

Remember that Medicare and most U.S. health plans only cover you within the United States.

If you plan to travel to Canada, you should consider a separate supplementary international policy.
- Blue Cross Blue Shield (BCBS) offers excellent international coverage for approximately $150 (one hundred fifty dollars) per year per person provided that you have an underlying domestic health insurance policy (does not matter whether it is PPO or HMO or whatever else). BCBS policy period goes from your start date up to the same date the following year.
- American Express (Amex) offers international supplementary health plans, too.

(I have no affiliation with any of the above.)

[LovesToWine]

I can only address Medicare. There are Advantage Plans and Supplement/ Medigap Plans for Medicare. The different companies and plans available to you are DICTATED by your zip code! Most people do not know this and the TV ads try and mislead us. For example, if your residence is in a rural area, you may ONLY be able to get a Supplement Plan (and of course this costs more money).
However, it is very versatile and even covers up to 50K internationally (lifetime max).
As others have mentioned, they have Supplement Plan F (which we also have) and know that the only difference between companies which offer the plans is the cost. ALL benefits and coverage is identical. We happen to like Regence as it is also less expensive than UCH (through AARP) and Regence gives us a 10% premium couple discount.

[AudiDudi]

Originally Posted by LovesToWine

<snip>
As others have mentioned, they have Supplement Plan F (which we also have) and know that the only difference between companies which offer the plans is the cost. ALL benefits and coverage is identical. We happen to like Regence as it is also less expensive than UCH (through AARP) and Regence gives us a 10% premium couple discount.

I was going to go with plan F until I learned that F (and C) will no longer accept new enrollees after 1/1/2020. My thoughts on this are that Plan F will have a pool of people getting older (no new fresh blood) and also a declining number of participants as people in F die. My personal feelings are that the rates in Plan F will increase faster than in a plan like G. Just my 2cents

[BillJinOR]

F and g are identical .. except for the annual deductible of 189.00 and g is generally , over the year less expensive in premium than 189. 189 /12 =18.90 per month.
G just forces you to pay the deductible. You are correct f will no longer be offered as G replaces it for most people G is a better deal.

[LovesToWine]

Switching to Plan G effective April 1.

[AudiDudi]

Originally Posted by LovesToWine

Switching to Plan G effective April 1.

We pay about $105/mo (ea) for G.

[LovesToWine]

I WISH we paid $105.00 per month! Geez- this zip code thing is out of hand. We will pay $165.00 per month. Still, it is better that $195.00 per month from the F plan. Glad we switched. We love Regence and costs less then UHC/AARP too. (identical benefits)

[AudiDudi]

Originally Posted by LovesToWine

I WISH we paid $105.00 per month! Geez- this zip code thing is out of hand. We will pay $165.00 per month. Still, it is better that $195.00 per month from the F plan. Glad we switched. We love Regence and costs less then UHC/AARP too. (identical benefits)

Some of the higher premium could be age related - we're 66/67. Our G is through Aetna.

[Duoglide1]

Our G plan is Mutual of Omaha and it’s ~$125 per month as it was based on my income the 2-3 years prior to retirement. Should go down some. Also we went with traditional Medicare, not M advantage. This covers us wherever we travel in the US. I do not want to return to Texas for medical care.

[BillJinOR]

I think you might be mixing up your basic Medicare and medigap ......Your basic Medicare premium is based on your income ( if you income is too high) but NOT the supplement/ medigap .... it based on your location and age primarily. There are no income questions every state county zip code as said is different

[AudiDudi]

Originally Posted by Duoglide1

Our G plan is Mutual of Omaha and it’s ~$125 per month as it was based on my income the 2-3 years prior to retirement. Should go down some. Also we went with traditional Medicare, not M advantage. This covers us wherever we travel in the US. I do not want to return to Texas for medical care.

Also on traditional Medicare for the same reason - want coverage anywhere and have used it in 3 states so far. I know people that have had to travel from AZ to WA, AZ to CA and AZ to WI to get their coverage as the Advantage plan only covers locally.